There's a line that can be crossed from "artistic nudity" to beyond.
And I think this is a bit beyond.
There are some lovely aspects to this shot, but I'm going to have to say I feel this is a bit much for a site like Vazaar.
I'm sure some will disagree.

2 Ana: And what is Nude or Erotic? And why You think these is more than nu!

Personally I don't find it the least bit vulgar, just because there is genitalia exposed doen't make it obscene, the lighting is fantastic, the model is beautiful and the pose is suggestive but still shows great form.

I was interested to see the comments on this one myself. I have no problem with this personally, but I can understand the point that this is a bit over the line for a completely unprotected website. There are no warnings, no nothing to keep kids out or to warn parents. This is a beautiful image of a beautiful woman. It is nude and it is erotic, vulgarity is completely in the eyes/mind of the beholder.

@Mikhail, perhaps the hand an inch or 2 to the camera right and no comments at all...

@Brandon, perhaps a thought about kids, the openness of this site and an image like this...

I think this is art. And I personally have no problem with it, but this isn't just my site. You all have a stake in Vazaar, too.

What are your suggestions on how I should approach this situation? Should we censor art? Or, should we allow images that might make some people uncomfortable?

Or... is there some alternate solution? I'm interested in your thoughts.

I think this is art as well, but others may disagree, and may not want to see artistic nudes on an open photo site. Over at Onxposure (www.onexposure.net) there is a filter system, requiring photogrphers to identify nude shots, and each user can set his/her filter to either allow or block photos so identified.

As a result there is a very robust artistic nude collection there. But that of course means a lot of work on the back end to code it all...

And in contrast, over at photo.net there is a very extensive artistic nude collection without any filters or warnings.

Ante la petición abierta hecha por Brandon Stone, debo decir que, aunque soy solo una iniciada en esta disciplina, la foto me parece buena pero me "perturba". A mi hija de 11 años le gusta mucho la fotografía y yo misma la invité para que subiera sus fotos a Vazaar y aprendiera de todos en su observación del trabajo realizado por los que aquí participan. Pero opino que se está pasando la línea...El resto de mis hijos( menores)también visitan Vazaar. les encanta ver por los ojos de otros...
Creo que esta foto es de esas que no me apetece aún que vean abiertamente y no escondo nada a mis hijos, no soy antigua pero creo que simplemente hay que ser decorosos y elegantes en público.

2 lbstone: I suggest a topic "Artistic nudes" where I plan to send all such photos and all I already submit to resubmit in topic Artistic nude. After it will be opened You can make some restriction for these topic, for example some warning or smth. else.
+ I thinks about to make some persons moderators which will delete comments, photos and so on.

2 reddave: thanks ;)

I agree with Ana Gaztelu...
There are younger people (her children, as she mentions) that visit this site, to study and see photography.

As I previously said, I believe there are some lovely aspects to this photograph, and usually, I have no issue with the nudes (especially women, cause we just look better nude)
:)
If this site is going to be "18 and above" make it as such.
Maybe as Craig mentions? A filter system?

Here is an English translation of AnaGaztelu comment above..... Given the open request made by Brandon Stone, I must say that although I am only one started in this discipline, the picture seems to me good but I am "disturbed". In my 11-year-old daughter likes photography and myself invited her to raise their photos Vaz and learn all in its observation of the work done by those who are involved here. But my opinion is shifting the line ... The rest of my children (minors) also visit Vaz. love to see in the eyes of others ...
I think this picture is such that I do not even want them to see openly and not hide anything to my children, I am not old but I think you just have to be decent and elegant in public.

Since the sudden influx of nude photographs...my use of Vazaar has changed. I no longer can leave Vazaar's webpage up at work or at home. I have to also be careful when opening up the photo page or the comment page to first check for inappropriate photos. I too have young children who view Vazaar and some photos are hard to explain....so I try my best to avoid them.

Good day all, I've only been here on the site for a few days and I have been enjoying myself - thanks Brandon for an excellent site! But Brandon has asked the question and we should be honest. I think he knows that if the members want a filter he'd have to code it, if he wasn't willing to do the coding he wouldn't have asked the question.

My opinion - I do like artistic nudes. But it did strike me on the very first time I opened this website, this was the top picture on the new featured list. I was a bit taken back. A nice shot, in the right category and venue. I can't argue the quality of the image, IMO it's excellent. BUT, should it be splashed in the open - I don't think so. The first time I opened this site, I was at work on a 30" monitor. Looking at nude images (regardless if porn or artistic) at work is forbidden, I'm fortunate no one was around when I opened the site. Although they would have understood it was an unintentional error. But not everyone understands or agrees with artistic nudes. So I do believe their should be something put in place. I do not think we should disallow or censor nudes, but maybe one of these ideas;

1. Create an artistic nude category that ALL nudes MUST be put into. No nudes on the other features unless specified. Make it part of the rules on each feature. No nudes allowed, or nudes allowed. Any that are nudes allowed are not featured in the open on the main page.

2. When a nude image becomes a feature or is to be displayed on the main page, have a "broken picture" or link that warns nude content, click here if you wish to view.

3. Or, a lot more coding, allow a user preference button that dictates what is displayed on the screen for a user.

Again Mikhail, sorry this thread came up on your image but the questions need to be addressed.

@ Scott
For the exact reason you're stating, I made the first comment.
I opened Vazaar at work..and there she was.

I have only been here on Vazaar a few days and I must agree with all the comments It's a great picture but nudity shouldn't be the first thing one sees when entering the site. All of the above comments on filters or warnings are a good way of handling this IMHO.

As I understand the first step we all must do, is to creat topic "Artistic Nude", I already suggest this topic and it has 20 votes. Why You don't vote for it??? Let's creat it!

Art

Thanks Arne! At last somebody understand me.

So I can't help but wonder with a topic named "Human Body" what the *!@$ did people expect to be posted? The line between "art" and "eroticism" and "pornography" is not as some wish to believe a clear line, it is a gray and fuzzy boundary that each sees and interprets individually. I vote: ART

And as for the issue of "safe for work," I don't know where you all work, but my experience is that I would have no more problem with a nude on my computer than I would with a photo of a flower. Work is not for Vazaar; and Vazaar is not for work. (Except for Brandon, of course)

Dear Bob, I am realy glad that You think so and that you write this. Because my English don't allow me to write this, but I think the same. I hope soon on Vazaar will be topic NUDE!

For anyone who is coming in late on this, there is an additional conversation in the Vazaar Discussion group. That is where I'll focus my follow-up on the subject:

groups.google.com/group/vazaar/browse_thread/threa...

Bob... during my lunch (I eat at my desk) I like to browse vasaar and a few other photo blogs.
And it wasn't in the "human body" topic that it was opened, but when it was featured on the front page.

ART!